Disappearing seat unit



April 1931. J. w.- MOWERY 1,801,681

DI SAPPEARI NG SEAT UNIT Filed 001;. 10, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ap 1931. .1. w. MOWERY DISAPPEARING SEAT UNIT Filed Oct. 10, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E ///Al Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES JAMES wrtroan MowEnY,

OF SAN" ANTONIO, TEXAS DISAPPEARING SEAT mm Application filed October 10, 1929. Serial No. 398,753.

7 This invention relates to disappearing seat units designed primarily for use in classrooms although it can also be employed in the construction of auditoriums of all kinds wherein it is desirable to use seats or a clear floor space. i

It is an object of the invention to provide movably mounted seat units the backs of which are adapted to become floor sections when the seatsare moved tolinactive positions, suitable means being provided whereby these sections can. be brought readily to either of two extreme positions.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within. the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown. In said drawings, Figure l is a section through a floor structure having combined therewith seat units such as constitute the present invention, one of the units being shown, :by broken lines, in active position and, by full lines, in inactive position.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a portion of the floor structure with the seat units in lowered positions. 7

Figure 3 is a section on line 33, Figure 1. Figure 4: is a section on line 44, Figure 3. Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a floor structure provided at any desired points with openings Q.

Mounted within each opening is a platform section 3 pivotally supported at one end by a shaft4. On this platform section is secured a seat 5 the back 6 of which is constructed of flooring or other material that will match the floor 1. This back 6 is extended from the shaft 4 and is so proportioned that when the platform section 3 is swung downwardly carrying the seat 5 therewith, the back 6 will assume a position within the opening 2 and completely close it. Thus said back will constitute a continuation of the floor, the upper surfaces of the floor and back being flush.

For the purpose of limiting the downward swinging movement of each unit, a link. 7 is connected to the bottom of the platform section 3 while another link 8 is connected to the bottom of the floor 1. The two links are j pivotally connected and, when theunit assumes a position with back 6 in opening 2, link 8 will rest against a stop 9 provided therefor. This is shown in Figure 1.

For the purpose of-raising and lowering the units, the shaft 4 can be operated by special mechanism. For example, and as shown in Figures 2 and 3, two or more units can be mounted on each shaft 4 and said shaft may be provided at any suitable point with a worm gear 10 adaptedto be actuated by a Worm 11. This worm is secured to ashaft 12 that can be suitably housed as shown at 13 .but so located as to beeasily reached by means of an actuating crank 14: or the like. By placing this crank in engagement with the angular end 15 of shaft 12 the said shaft can berotated to transmit motion to shaft 4:

and cause the elevation or lowering of all of the units connected to the shaft. By providing a worm gearing the units will be held securely in any positions to which they may bemoved. i

A supplemental means for supportingthe units at those ends remote from shafts4 can be employed. Each of these supplemental means includes a shaft 16 having fingers 17. Aworm gear 18 is. secured to the shaft and is adapted to be actuated by a worm19 in the same manner as already described in con nection with the parts 10 and 11.

When it is desired to use the seat 5, the fingers 17 .are'swung downwardly from the position shown at the left of Figure 1. Shaft (i is then actuated to swing the unit upwardly from the full line position beneath the floor 1 shown in Figure 1 to the broken line position shown in said figure. When the unit is brought to this raised position the fingers 17 areswung upwardly to engagethe bottomof the platform section 3 so that said section l will thus be securely supported not only by its shaft 4: but also by the supporting fingers. Where several units are connected to the one shaft all of them Wlll be raised simultaneously.

Should it be desired to clear the floor of the chairs so as to leave a smooth unobstructed surface, it would be necessary merely to reverse the foregoing operation. In other words, fingers 17 would first be swung dcwnwardly after which the shafts 4 would be actuated to lower the platform sections 3 until links 8 come against stops 9 and the backs 6 assume positions in the openings 2. The fingers 17 are then returned to supporting positions.

In addition to the seat 5, each platform section can also support a desk 20 or any other object such as a table or the like.

hat is claimed is:

1. The combination with a floor structure having an opening, of a platform section formed of a single panel adapted to close the said opening and pivotally mounted at one end therein, a back fixedly mounted on and extending at an angle from the platform section, a structure mounted on the platform section in the angle between said section and the back, said platform section and back being movable downwardly about the pivot to swing the platform section out of the opening and to position the back within the opening thereby to completely close said opening, the upper surface of the back, when in closed position, being flush with the upper surface of the floor structure.

2. The combination with a floor structure having an opening, of a platform section formed of a single panel adapted to close the said opening and pivotally mounted at one end therein, a back fixedly mounted on and extending at an angle from the platform section, a structure mounted on the platform section in the angle between said section and the back, said platform section and back being movable downwardly about the pivot to swing the platform section out of theopening and to position the back within the opening thereby to completely close said opening, the upper surface of the back, when in closed position, being flush with the upper surface of the floor structure, and means for engaging either the platform section or the back to hold it in the opening.

3. The combination with a floor structure having an opening, of a platform section formed of a single panel adapted to close the opening and pivotally mounted at one end, a back fixedly mounted on and extending at an angle from one end of the platform section, means for swinging the platform section downwardly out of the opening to position the back within the opening and completely close the same, the upper surface of the back, when in closed position, being flush with the upper surface of the floor structure, and means for holding the back against downward movement out of the opening.

4. The combination W1th a floor structure having an opening, of fixedly connected panels disposed at an angle, means for pivotally connecting the panels to the floor structure at one end of the opening, means for moving the panels in unison about the pivot to bring either of said panels into the opening to close the opening and means for engaging either of said panels to hold it against downward movement when supported in the opening.

5. The combination with a floor structure having an opening, of fixedly connected panels disposed at an angle, means for pivotally connecting the panels to the floor structure at one end of the opening, means for moving the panels in unison about the pivot to bring either of said panels into the opening to close the opening, means for engaging either of said panels to hold it against downward movement when supported in the opening, and. a seat fixedly mounted in the angle formed by the panels and constituting a brace for connecting the panels.

6. The combination with a floor structure having an. opening, of fixedly connected panels disposed at an angle, means for pivotally connecting the panels to the floor structure at one end of the opening, means for moving the panels in unison about the pivot to bring either of said panels into the opening to close the opening, and means for engaging either of said panels to hold it against downward movement when supported in the opening, a seat fixedly mounted in the angle formed by the panels and constituting a brace for connecting the panels, and a desk fixedly mounted on one of the panels and spaced from but movable with the seat about the pivot.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiiXed my signature.

JAMES WILFORD MOWERY. 

